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crash test dummy

I'm not talking about tracing, I mean setting a cover next to me and drawing it, usually larger, myself. Anytime I try to draw something on my own though I get nothing. I've bought books, but I wind up just copying those as well and not actually learning anything. Anyone else have this problem? Or have had it and have gotten past it?

crash test dummy

I'm not talking about tracing, I mean setting a cover next to me and drawing it, usually larger, myself. Anytime I try to draw something on my own though I get nothing. I've bought books, but I wind up just copying those as well and not actually learning anything. Anyone else have this problem? Or have had it and have gotten past it?

"sinosleep has the inner rage to thrive on this board, i can sense it" Chubbles

Twenty-Something

If you're talking about superhero covers then understanding anatomy is key. And I'm not talking about understanding them from the same angle that you see Wolverine posed in on a cover etc. I'm talking about understanding it three dimensionally. You have to be able to rotate the image in your mind and understand how muscles connect to one another and where they go even when they disappear from view. This helps with depth, shading, proportions. Pretty much everything.

Twenty-Something

If you're talking about superhero covers then understanding anatomy is key. And I'm not talking about understanding them from the same angle that you see Wolverine posed in on a cover etc. I'm talking about understanding it three dimensionally. You have to be able to rotate the image in your mind and understand how muscles connect to one another and where they go even when they disappear from view. This helps with depth, shading, proportions. Pretty much everything.

"Dude, I bow down to you, you are the worlds greatest ballbuster." -Jude Terror"Sorry, nate! I think you automatically lose all arguments from now on, simply due to the fact that the only person willing to back you up is batshit insane!" - Dragavon"Everything I know I learned from reading your posts." - Nietoperz

crash test dummy

Benderbrau wrote:If you're talking about superhero covers then understanding anatomy is key. And I'm not talking about understanding them from the same angle that you see Wolverine posed in on a cover etc. I'm talking about understanding it three dimensionally. You have to be able to rotate the image in your mind and understand how muscles connect to one another and where they go even when they disappear from view. This helps with depth, shading, proportions. Pretty much everything.

I understand that but my brain doesn't seem to take. I used to use one of those poseable (why is this setting off the spell check) 5 inch wooden looking dummies when I was in art class in high school but I would just copy the damned thing. I would still need reference material the get the muscles right. My proportion also seems to go to shit without reference material unless it's buildings and such which I seem to able to do on my own just fine. It's irritating as hell.

crash test dummy

Benderbrau wrote:If you're talking about superhero covers then understanding anatomy is key. And I'm not talking about understanding them from the same angle that you see Wolverine posed in on a cover etc. I'm talking about understanding it three dimensionally. You have to be able to rotate the image in your mind and understand how muscles connect to one another and where they go even when they disappear from view. This helps with depth, shading, proportions. Pretty much everything.

I understand that but my brain doesn't seem to take. I used to use one of those poseable (why is this setting off the spell check) 5 inch wooden looking dummies when I was in art class in high school but I would just copy the damned thing. I would still need reference material the get the muscles right. My proportion also seems to go to shit without reference material unless it's buildings and such which I seem to able to do on my own just fine. It's irritating as hell.

Last edited by sinosleep on Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

"sinosleep has the inner rage to thrive on this board, i can sense it" Chubbles

Rain Partier

sinosleep wrote:I understand that but my brain doesn't seem to take. I used to use one of those poseable (why is this setting off the spell check) 5 inch dummies when I was in art class in high school but I would just copy the damned thing. I would still need reference material the get the muscles right. My proportion also seems to go to shit without reference material. It's irritating as hell.

Try changing up your style. Easier said than done, that I know. But that can help. Or using different tools. Draw with your opposite hand, etc.

Rain Partier

sinosleep wrote:I understand that but my brain doesn't seem to take. I used to use one of those poseable (why is this setting off the spell check) 5 inch dummies when I was in art class in high school but I would just copy the damned thing. I would still need reference material the get the muscles right. My proportion also seems to go to shit without reference material. It's irritating as hell.

Try changing up your style. Easier said than done, that I know. But that can help. Or using different tools. Draw with your opposite hand, etc.

Twenty-Something

sinosleep wrote:I understand that but my brain doesn't seem to take. I used to use one of those poseable (why is this setting off the spell check) 5 inch wooden looking dummies when I was in art class in high school but I would just copy the damned thing. I would still need reference material the get the muscles right. My proportion also seems to go to shit without reference material unless it's buildings and such which I seem to able to do on my own just fine. It's irritating as hell.

Meh. Needing reference material isn't a defeat.

Short story: I was taking a programming course in college and the exams were all closed book. I asked my professor why the exams were that way. He told me it was because we had to learn to not rely on the books. I asked him when was the last time he ever saw a software engineer who's desk wasn't covered in reference guides and manuals. The answer is: never.

Everyone leans on them from time to time. Even artists. Somewhere I have a book about Marvel comic's history and in it is a picture of Mark Texeira sitting at his desk drawing a page for an issue of Ghost Rider and his desk is littered in opened reference books and even other comics that he's clearly using a guide.

BTW: the wooden dummies suck. I have two. Never use them. They're anatomically inappropriate for most things except understand depth IMO. They do nothing to help with muscles, etc. For muscles you would need something akin to an action figure and even then that's only good for individual limbs. Neither option properly illustrates how muscles pull on each other at the joint.

The only good wooden mannequins are the ones for the hand IMO.

My best recommendation for guides to muscles are medical anatomy guides.

Twenty-Something

sinosleep wrote:I understand that but my brain doesn't seem to take. I used to use one of those poseable (why is this setting off the spell check) 5 inch wooden looking dummies when I was in art class in high school but I would just copy the damned thing. I would still need reference material the get the muscles right. My proportion also seems to go to shit without reference material unless it's buildings and such which I seem to able to do on my own just fine. It's irritating as hell.

Meh. Needing reference material isn't a defeat.

Short story: I was taking a programming course in college and the exams were all closed book. I asked my professor why the exams were that way. He told me it was because we had to learn to not rely on the books. I asked him when was the last time he ever saw a software engineer who's desk wasn't covered in reference guides and manuals. The answer is: never.

Everyone leans on them from time to time. Even artists. Somewhere I have a book about Marvel comic's history and in it is a picture of Mark Texeira sitting at his desk drawing a page for an issue of Ghost Rider and his desk is littered in opened reference books and even other comics that he's clearly using a guide.

BTW: the wooden dummies suck. I have two. Never use them. They're anatomically inappropriate for most things except understand depth IMO. They do nothing to help with muscles, etc. For muscles you would need something akin to an action figure and even then that's only good for individual limbs. Neither option properly illustrates how muscles pull on each other at the joint.

The only good wooden mannequins are the ones for the hand IMO.

My best recommendation for guides to muscles are medical anatomy guides.

"Dude, I bow down to you, you are the worlds greatest ballbuster." -Jude Terror"Sorry, nate! I think you automatically lose all arguments from now on, simply due to the fact that the only person willing to back you up is batshit insane!" - Dragavon"Everything I know I learned from reading your posts." - Nietoperz

Twenty-Something

Greg wrote:Try changing up your style. Easier said than done, that I know. But that can help. Or using different tools. Draw with your opposite hand, etc.

Draw with your opposite hand?

"Dude, I bow down to you, you are the worlds greatest ballbuster." -Jude Terror"Sorry, nate! I think you automatically lose all arguments from now on, simply due to the fact that the only person willing to back you up is batshit insane!" - Dragavon"Everything I know I learned from reading your posts." - Nietoperz

Rain Partier

Yeah. I draw/write with my right hand. I've found a lot of fun drawing with my left hand and helps me draw without worrying too much about it looking perfect. And sometimes it eases my mind to the point where when I finally switch back, I'm a lot more free with my pencil movements, etc.

Rain Partier

Yeah. I draw/write with my right hand. I've found a lot of fun drawing with my left hand and helps me draw without worrying too much about it looking perfect. And sometimes it eases my mind to the point where when I finally switch back, I'm a lot more free with my pencil movements, etc.

Twenty-Something

Greg wrote:Yeah. I draw/write with my right hand. I've found a lot of fun drawing with my left hand and helps me draw without worrying too much about it looking perfect. And sometimes it eases my mind to the point where when I finally switch back, I'm a lot more free with my pencil movements, etc.

Twenty-Something

Greg wrote:Yeah. I draw/write with my right hand. I've found a lot of fun drawing with my left hand and helps me draw without worrying too much about it looking perfect. And sometimes it eases my mind to the point where when I finally switch back, I'm a lot more free with my pencil movements, etc.

I can't even rub one out with my left hand. Let alone draw with it.

"Dude, I bow down to you, you are the worlds greatest ballbuster." -Jude Terror"Sorry, nate! I think you automatically lose all arguments from now on, simply due to the fact that the only person willing to back you up is batshit insane!" - Dragavon"Everything I know I learned from reading your posts." - Nietoperz